LANCASTER, PA — The Manheim Township Police Department has charged a Philadelphia man, identified as Clifford Person, 35, with theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief. These charges come as a result of an alleged incident that took place at a Sunoco location in Lancaster on June 7, 2023.
According to witnesses, a man entered the Sunoco located at 1204 Lititz Pike and proceeded to violently interact with a PA skill machine inside the store. It’s alleged that Person began to yell and strike the machine, causing it to break. He is then accused of removing the cash box from the damaged machine.
A second witness reported seeing a man leave the store, open the cash box, discard it, and then flee the scene in a white Nissan sedan. On the same day, a similar incident was reported at another Sunoco in Lancaster City.
Members of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police responded to the second incident and were able to obtain footage of the suspect’s vehicle, leading to the identification of Person as the alleged perpetrator. The close proximity of the two incidents, the similarity in the modus operandi, and the resemblance between the described suspect and vehicle in both incidents led authorities to conclude that Person was likely responsible for both thefts.
Following these allegations, a criminal complaint was filed against Person, and an arrest warrant was obtained. He was arrested on January 11, 2024, and is currently awaiting arraignment.
While these are serious allegations, it remains crucial to remember that an arrest or a criminal complaint does not equate to a declaration of guilt. Every defendant, including Person, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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